New Nationals Owner  —  9 News has learned Major League Baseball has selected the new owners of the Washington Nationals.  9 Sports Director Brett Haber has confirmed that the Lerner Group will be named in a news conference that could come as soon as Friday.

Cordero struggles as Rangers fall  —  Mench homers for club-record sixth straight game  —  ARLINGTON — This time Francisco Cordero could offer little defense when asked if he should remain the Rangers' closer.  —  "It's not my decision," Cordero said, once again finding himself surrounded …

Under The Knife  —  Velocity Boy  —  There's something going on with some pitchers this spring.  A number of pitchers, all Latin and normally all very good, have had poor velocity.  Some played in the WBC, some didn't.  The group has no commonalities that I can find but from Carlos Zambrano …

Bowden Variations  —  "I've had plenty of e-mails from fans suggesting if we had an owner we could have kept Esteban Loaiza and signed A.J. Burnett, Kevin Millwood and/or Jarrod Washburn.  So, for a mere $35 million for this year alone, you could have had a starting pitching rotation that is a combined 2-9."

Bonds hits homer No. 711 in big spot  —  Slugger belts pinch-hit dinger to tie game in ninth vs. Mets  —  SAN FRANCISCO — It was one of the seminal moments of the young season on Wednesday at AT&T Park.  Power against power in the ninth inning.  Billy Wagner closing for the New York Mets.

It Just Works Out For Sox  —  Ramirez's Three-Run HR Bails Out Tito, Schilling  —  CLEVELAND — His opinions may be strong at times, but Curt Schilling swears he has never tried to strong-arm manager Terry Francona.  —  Not in Philadelphia.  —  Not in Boston.  —  "It's always been you [reporters]," Schilling said.

D-Backs pounce on Peavy  —  Vargas dominant as Arizona takes second straight from Padres  —  SAN DIEGO — Claudio Vargas doesn't have an explanation for it.  —  Neither does Bob Melvin.  —  And truth be told they really don't care why Vargas seems to pitch so much better on the road …

Marlins elude sweep with late mojo  —  Helms, Willingham get big hits; Nolasco notches first win  —  CHICAGO — In need of some relief, the Marlins got a big boost by the bullpen, especially rookie Ricky Nolasco and veteran Matt Herges.  —  And a struggling offense got some punch and good fortune from pinch-hitter Wes Helms.

Notes: Nationals bring back Day  —  WASHINGTON — In need of pitching, the Nationals kept themselves busy on Wednesday afternoon.  They claimed right-hander Zach Day off waivers from the Rockies, and to make room on the 40-man roster, they designated catcher Wiki Gonzalez for assignment.

Future Shock  —  Phone Phun  —  Here in Chicago, we had easily the nicest day of the year weather-wise on Monday, a day with plenty of sun and temperatures in the 70s.  On Tuesday morning, I woke up to a quarter-inch of ice on my porch, with temperatures in the 30s, heavy winds …

Wright has been aching to stay in the lineup  —  SAN FRANCISCO - David Wright still has the bruise from Jon Adkins' fastball that tattooed him beneath the left armpit.  His aching groin doesn't feel so great, either, and anyone who watched Wright crumple to the dirt Saturday after trying …

Nationals pick up Zach Day  —  Philadelphia - A potential grievance was avoided today when the Washington Nationals claimed pitcher Zach Day off waivers, ending the right-hander's brief tenure with the Rockies.  —  "It looks like it ended well for Zach,'' agent Brian Goldberg said …

Notes: Adams sent down to Nashville  —  Right-handed reliever optioned to Triple-A for regular work  —  MILWAUKEE — The Brewers will have a new player in uniform for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but for now they're not saying who it will be.

Stepping Up  —  Stepping Up  —  Lost in all the hoopla surrounding Greg Maddux's seemingly miraculous mid-life, late-career resurgence — though, really, shouldn't we have known he had a few more tricks in that rubbery right arm of his? — is the absolute dead-on perfect timing of it all.